Injuries & Moves: Kiermaier (hip) placed on IL
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April 24: CF Kevin Kiermaier (left hip flexor inflammation) placed on 10-day IL; 3B/OF Addison Barger recalled from Triple-A Buffalo
Kiermaier felt his hip flare up while running Tuesday and will now be shut down for at least a few days. This is the same hip that Kiermaier had surgery on in late 2022, but the Blue Jays are optimistic that this is an isolated issue that Kiermaier can recover from quickly.
In a corresponding move, the Blue Jays recalled No. 6 prospect Barger, who typically bounces between third base and right field, but made his first professional appearance in left field in his MLB debut Wednesday. Barger should get semi-regular at-bats for the Blue Jays and has some defensive versatility to move around the diamond.
April 24: RHP Alek Manoah struggles again in rehab outing
After showing some very encouraging signs in his last rehab appearance for Triple-A Buffalo, Manoah struggled Wednesday. The big right-hander allowed six runs on seven hits, including two homers, over three innings. He also walked four batters, so he was dealing with some of the same issues the Blue Jays have seen from him recently. Manoah is expected to continue rehabbing with Triple-A Buffalo while the Blue Jays evaluate him.
10-DAY/15-DAY INJURED LIST
RHP Alek Manoah (right shoulder soreness)
Expected return: Potentially early May
Manoah struggled in his April 24 rehab outing, allowing six runs and a pair of homers over three innings. This was a step back after he'd looked sharp the outing prior, so he's no closer to forcing the Blue Jays' hand for a promotion.
For the time being, Manoah is still competing to be the next starter up if the Blue Jays need one. The departure of Mitch White and the injury to No. 1 prospect Ricky Tiedemann have thinned the Blue Jays' rotation depth, so while they'd love to see Manoah step into a role, they still need to see a few strong outings in a row. (Last updated: April 24)
RHP Chad Green (right teres major strain)
Expected return: TBD
The Blue Jays placed Green on the IL on April 20 (retroactive to April 17) after he reported not feeling great following a throwing session and underwent an MRI. The team originally said he was battling shoulder soreness after he wasn’t available to pitch on April 17 against the Yankees. The Blue Jays officially classified his injury as a right teres major strain following the MRI. He will be shut down from throwing and reassessed at a later date to determine his timeline to return. Green was off to a strong start, with a 2.35 ERA over seven appearances as the Blue Jays’ setup man. (Updated: April 20)